Appel shines through three innings as Astros top Veracruz

In front of about 20 family members, Mark Appel started the Astros’ final game before opening day on Sunday afternoon, a 6-1 win over Veracruz of the Mexican League.

The 22-year-old righthander said he wasn’t nervous, but he did take in the moment. He struck out three and allowed two hits in three innings. He didn’t walk anyone, and will head out to California, where he’ll start the season pitching for High Class A Lancaster.

“It was just great to be able to go out there and pitch for the Astros,” said Appel, whose spring was slowed because of a Jan. 30 appendectomy. “I think I’m pretty close as far as building my strength back. I think a lot of it just depends on, it’s about the process and pitching more. … I think I’m in a good place right now.”

The next 162 games the Astros play will count. They start their season Tuesday against the Yankees.

Veracruz, a 2-0 loser on Saturday, again played the Astros tough for most of the game. But unlike the previous game, the Astros had no regulars on the field, save for back-up catcher Carlos Corporan. It was kids day at Minute Maid Park.

Veracruz tied the game at 1 in the seventh inning and the Astros responded quickly with five runs in the bottom of the frame. With the Astros up 3-1, Japhet Amador, who played in the Mexican League last year, singled to left, and a throwing error helped three runs score on the play.

Erik Castro — the other Castro from California, this one a 26-year-old who did well at Class AA last season — had a hit, walked and scored a pair of runs. Big-name prospects George Springer and Carlos Correa both drove in a run.

Those two will be out of sight from Minute Maid Park for a while.

“I think I knew about, what, a couple weeks ago when they got sent down that they wasn’t going to start (for the big league team),” Porter said when asked if it was disappointing to see the prospects go. “We all understood why they were in camp.”

Lefty Pat Urckfitz, 25, allowed just one hit and struck out one in his three scoreless innings following Appel.

“That was the first time I’d ever been in a big league ballpark, so it was cool,” said Urckfitz, a product of Rochester, N.Y.

Righty Bobby Doran, who was in big league camp along with Appel, took the final three frames.

The Astros swept all four exhibition games they played from Friday through Sunday, including two from the Rangers in San Antonio.